Former Red Wings Getting Paid

Add goaltender Magnus Hellberg to the list of former Detroit Red Wings players who are banking big paydays by returning to European hockey. The netminder was signing a three-year deal with Djurgarden, newly-promoted to the SHL.

That contract, according to published reports, is going to be paying Hellberg 400,000 Swedish Krona per season. That works out to about $421,000 in US dollars each campaign.

Magnus Hellberg's 13th professional season was one of his best yet! Helly boasted a 24-14-1-2 record through 41 appearances—setting a new Texas Stars record by winning each of his first six starts.

Best of luck in Sweden, Helly! 💫 pic.twitter.com/Wc0KMP66zA

— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 23, 2025

Last season, Hellberg was earning $450,000 playing goal for the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. They were the team that was eliminating the Grand Rapids Griffins from the Calder Cup playoffs.

Earlier in the offseason, ex-Red Wings forward Dominik Kubalik was signing a contract that was reportedly making him the highest-paid player in the Swiss League. He would later insist that those salary claims were inflated.

Former Red Wings Forward Lands Coaching Gig

It’s been over a decade since forward Cory Emmerton was playing for the Red Wings and the Griffins. He saw duty in 139 games for Detroit from 2010-14.

However, it’s only been a year since he hung his skates following a long career in Europe. And now, Emmerton is embarking upon a new career. Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League is adding him to the club’s coaching staff in an assistant’s role. He’ll be working on skill development, as well as helping with game tactics.

“Cory’s arrival in the locker room is a real asset for the coaching staff,” Lausanne general manager John Fust told Swiss Hockey News. “With his experience as a former player and his tactical knowledge of the game, he will play a key role in the personal development and technical progress of our players.”

Emmerton played for Lausanne HC from 2018-23.

Compher Gets Extension

Relax, Red Wings fans, no not that Compher. The Toronto Sceptres of the PWHL are giving forward Jesse Compher a two-year contract extension.

BACK IN OUR COMPHER ZONE 💙💛

We’ve extended forward Jesse Compher for two more years! pic.twitter.com/u1wtx9ssD4

— Toronto Sceptres (@PWHL_Toronto) June 17, 2025

Her brother, center JT Compher, still has three years remaining on his pact with the Red Wings that calls for an AAV of $5.1 million.

Ice Chips

Two former Red Wings defensemen are on the move in Europe. Ryan Sproul is leaving Germany’s Selber Wolfe to sign with Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Meanwhile, Dan Renouf is departing from Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the AHL to join Adler Mannheim. That’s the German club responsible for developing Moritz Seider.

Ex-Detroit forward Scott Wilson is changing KHL clubs. He’s leaving Salavat Yulaev and going to Sibr . . . Former NHL forward Max Comtois, linked to the Red Wings at one point earlier in the offseason, is staying put in the KHL. He’s opting to re-sign with Moscow Dynamo.

Selected 51st overall by the Red Wings in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Detroit was opting not to sign forward Theodor Niederbach. Let go at the end of the season by MoDo, he’ll be playing next season in the SHL with Frolunda. He was previously with Frolunda from 2020-22 . . . Maxmilian Kilpinen, the player Detroit chose 129th overall in the 2022 draft, is heading in the wrong direction. He’ll be playing next season with Hudiksvalls HC of Hockeyettan, the Swedish third division.